IMPORTANT: Required Minimum Distributions

Hadassah must receive your gift by December 30 for your donation to qualify as a QUALIFIED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION in 2024. If you have check-writing features on your IRA, please be aware that your check must clear your account by December 30 to count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the calendar year 2024. Learn more about planned giving at plannedgiving.hadassah.org/ira-charitable-rollover.

Wishing our Hadassah families a Happy Chanukah!

Our Jewish Calendar
From Mary Anne Winig, Central Pacific Coast Region Jewish Education Chair

What you might not know about our Jewish calendar:

1. The first Hebrew month of the year is Nisan, the month we celebrate Pesach and the beginning of Spring.
2. Tishrei, the 7th month, is when we start counting our numerical new year—this year 5785. Rosh Hashanah happens on the 1st of Tishrei!
3. Our 12 Jewish months correspond to the seasonal changes in Israel. Spring months: Nisan, Iyar, Sivan; Summer months:Tammuz, Av, Elul; Fall months: Tishrei, Cheshvan, Kislev; Winter months: Tevet, Shvat, Adar

Did you see the last new moon, on December 2, aka the 1st of Kislev 5785 (our 9th month, and last month of Fall)? On our Jewish calendar, the new moon each month is celebrated as Rosh Chodesh (head of the month), a monthly holiday. Many Hadassah groups have monthly Rosh Chodesh study groups including two here in the Central Pacific Coast Region!

We welcome the new month with special prayers for peace and well-being, joy and gladness, deliverance and consolation. We just finished the month of Cheshvan, sometimes referred to as Mar Cheshvan (bitter Cheshvan), as there are no Jewish holidays in Cheshvan. Maybe we do need a break after the intensive and joyful holidays in the month before Cheshvan, the month of Tishrei, when we celebrate our High Holidays and Sukkot and Simchat Torah.

Chanukah always starts the 25th of Kislev. It’s the minor holiday we celebrate to commemorate the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, after the Maccabean fighters, led by Mattathias and his five sons, were able to recapture it from the Syrians under Emperor Antiochus IV, who had installed their own gods and forms of worship there in 167 BCE. It took 3 years, but the Maccabees (Hasmoneans) prevailed and ousted the Assyrian troops. We celebrated Chanukah for eight days. It’s a joyous festival for all generations of our families.

"Quotes from Karen"
Karen Bloom, Central Pacific Coast Region 2025 President
kbloom@hadassah.org

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” - Closing Time by Semisonic

It’s mid-December and, as we move into January, we will be leaving 2024 behind to begin anew in 2025. We are saying thank you to Susan as she moves into Hadassah leadership post-presidency. Her hard work has kept our region moving forward, and she is leaving our region in a place of growth and great potential for the future. Thank you, Susan!

The Central Pacific Coast Region will be coming together throughout the coming year to support each other as Zionists and support our beloved Hadassah. I am so excited to see where 2025 takes us!

Thank you to all of our Annual Donors who participated in our Central Pacific Coast Matching Challenge! We appreciate everyone who made or increased their commitments to Hadassah.

Sandy Sidorsky, Rena Feuerstein, and Ian Merles 

TOGETHER WE WILL HEAL

Double Our Impact!
Yet again, we are delighted to have secured an anonymous $1 million matching gift that means all NEW DONATIONS made to Gandel Rehabilitation Center through December 31, 2024, will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Your Donation Can Qualify For This $1 Million Dollar Match

Donate before the END OF THE YEAR and HELP HADASSAH to HEAL ISRAEL and GET THE MATCH! Hadassah has opened the first three floors of the Gandel Rehabilitation Center on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem to accommodate the dramatic increase in demand to heal the wounded physically and emotionally. At times like this, your gifts are so needed and appreciated. 

To find out more and to donate, click here. If donating $5000 or more, please contact Harriett Zeitlin at hzeitlin@hadassah.org.

Watch a video about Gandel Rehabilitation Center here.

Click here to donate.

National Hadassah Information

One Book, One Hadassah: Tap Dancing On Everest with Dr. Mimi Zieman
Thursday, December 19 at 4:00 pm Pacific via Zoom

Author and women’s health advocate Dr. Mimi Zieman discusses her engaging memoir, Tap Dancing on Everest, with Hadassah Magazine Executive Editor Lisa Hostein. As a young medical student, Dr. Zieman became the medical expert—and the only woman— on a team scaling Mount Everest. In this coming-of-age story, she blends memories of the risky expedition with reflections on her Jewish background and her meditations on risk, adventure and empowerment.

Register at events.hadassah.org/TapDancing

One Book, One Hadassah: The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum with Margalit Fox

Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 12:30 pm Pacific via Zoom

Acclaimed author and journalist Margalit Fox talks with Hadassah Magazine Executive Editor Lisa Hostein about her book The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum: The Rise and Fall of an American Organized-Crime Boss. Register at hadassah.org/oboh-jan-2025

Hadassah Advocates at the UN

On the first day of the United Nations’ (UN) annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Hadassah led 65 organizations in asking the UN to hold Hamas accountable for their crimes against humanity, as covered by publications like the Jerusalem Post and the Jewish News Syndicate. Join us in telling the UN to hold Hamas accountable!

December and January Chapter and Region Happenings

Evolve Hadassah

Central Pacific Coast's Evolve community (self-identifying women in their 20’s-50’s) is planning a quarterly season of fabulous regional events so we can gather, commune and network! We are planning events in San Francisco, Diablo Valley and Palo Alto in 2025. Email Tory for more info: CPCEvolve@gmail.com.

Berkeley • Book Group
Thursday, December 19 at 1:00 pm Pacific via Zoom
We will discuss Shtum by Jem Lester.

Thursday, January 16 at 1:00 pm Pacific via Zoom
We will discuss Goyhood by Reuven Fenton.

All are welcome, you don't have to be a Berkeley Chapter member to join in! Contact Estie Hudes at estie.hudes@ucsf.edu for the Zoom link and more information.

Berkeley • Zionist Women's Solidarity Walks
Biweekly Walks

We take biweekly, easy walks in nature. Join us! Contact Jen Coffey via Whatsapp to suggest places and days/times to walk. To join the group, contact Susan (scgrossman@hadassah.org).

Diablo Valley • Study Group
Wednesday, December 11 at 1:30 pm Pacific
Wednesday, January 8 at 1:30 pm Pacific
Wednesday, January 22 at 1:30 pm Pacific

Contact Paula Schiff at dvhadassah@gmail.com for more information, and to be added to the Study Group mailing list for reminders a week prior to the meetings.

Diablo Valley • Book Club
Thursday, December 19 at 10:00 am Pacific
The Hadassah Book Club will discuss The Wolf Hunt by Aylet Gundar Goshen.

Thursday, January 16 at 10:00 am Pacific
The Hadassah Book Club will discuss The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum, The Rise and Fall of an American Organized Crime Boss by Margalit Fox.

We meet at Congregation B’nai Shalom in Walnut Creek. For more information, contact Joyce Ellenberg at dvhadassah@gmail.com.

Evolve in Diablo Valley • Hanukkah Dinner and White Elephant Gift Exchange
Sunday, December 15 at 5:00 pm Pacific

Join us for a delightful dinner and gift exchange, hosted by Janice Frankel. Feel free to bring a friend (or two). There is no charge to attend this membership appreciation event. Register at events.hadassah.org/EvolveDVHanukkah.

Evolve in Diablo Valley • Book Club
Thursday, January 16 at 7:00 pm Pacific

Join us for an exciting book club. We will discuss Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky. For more information, contact Deb at deborah.blankfield@gmail.com.

North Bay • Tea & Tiles - An Afternoon of Games
Sunday, December 29 at 1:00 pm Pacific

Learn Mah Jongg, spell your way to success with Bananagrams or Scrabble, try out Ransom Notes or Abducktion, or bring your own favorite game. Light snacks and refreshments will be served but feel free to bring your favorite for 6-8 people. Space is limited; held at a private home in Santa Rosa. Registration is $5.00. To register, visit events.hadassah.org/teatiles2024.

If tickets are sold out, please email Danielle at socohadassah@gmail.com to get on a waitlist.

Sacramento • Jessie Yoshpe Hadassah Study Group

Our study group meets twice a month and is reading a wonderful Hadassah publication: Pray Tell, A Hadassah Guide To Jewish Prayer.

Contact Dee Miller (jessieyoshpestudygroup@gmail.com) to get details on how to join the group! Make the connection now so you can be part of this wonderful group.

Sacramento • Non-Fiction Book Group

We meet irregularly and welcome new members! (We skip months when not enough of us are present.) Contact Kathy Dodson at katwillgo@gmail.com to connect!

Santa Cruz • Coffee Talk with Hadassah
Wednesday, December 18 at 10:30 am Pacific
Get together on the West Side for no-host coffee with Hadassah members and allies. Non-Hadassah members welcome. 

Thursday, December 19 at 10:30 am Pacific
Get together in Aptos for coffee at a private home. RSVP for the address.

Let's be with community, meet friends, talk about issues that impact us as Jews, and learn about Hadassah.

RSVP or Questions? Contact Anastasia at binkyart@live.com

Santa Cruz • Women's Networking, Schmoozing, and Social Hour
Thursday, January 16 at 5:30 pm Pacific

Get together for Women's Social Hour, co-sponsored by Hadassah, Chadeish Yameinu, and Temple Beth El Sisterhood.

Please bring new socks and/or freshly washed, gently used, warm coats of all sizes to donate to farmworker families.

For questions or to RSVP for the address, contact Anastasia at binkyart@live.com or (831) 200-9464.

Santa Cruz • Instagram and Facebook

Follow us on Instagram! @santa_cruz_chapter_of_hadassah

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SantaCruzHadassah and join our WhatsApp group to get updates on our events (Call 831-247-9775 or email Anastasia (binkyart@live.com) with your cell phone number).

Solano-Napa • Film Group Discussion
Sunday, December 15 at 5:00 pm Pacific

You are invited to join a film discussion of “The Cakemaker". Stream at home, then join the discussion! Available for free through most local libraries on Kanopy.

Register at events.hadassah.org/TheCakemaker. Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Questions? Contact Jan Leventhal at janetbleventhal@hotmail.com.

Sunday, January 12 at 5:00 pm Pacific

You are invited to join a film discussion of “The Catcher Was a Spy". Stream at home, then join the discussion! Available for free through most local libraries on Kanopy.

Register at events.hadassah.org/TheCatcherWasaSpy. Zoom link provided upon registration. Questions? Contact Jan Leventhal at janetbleventhal@hotmail.com.

An important message from Jan Leventhal, film group coordinator:
Let's grow our group! Please reach out to a few friends and invite them to our group. Zoom get-togethers are really helpful in the long winter months! Let me know of any friends who could join us and support Hadassah.

Solano-Napa • Hanukkah Party
Sunday, December 22 at 12:00pm Pacific 

Cosponsored with Congregation B’Nai Israel’s Sisterhood. We will be enjoying comedy and Chinese food from Long Life Vegi House in Berkeley. Join us to enjoy film clips of the comedy of Phyllis Diller, Totie Fields and others. Your RSVP is a must by December 15 at shoshana.nurik@gmail.com. This event will be followed by Rosh Chodesh in person and on Zoom.

Solano-Napa • Rosh Chodesh Tevet Gathering
Sunday, December 22 at 3:00 pm Pacific via Zoom

Join us in person or via Zoom to celebrate Rosh Chodesh Tevet. Gather with Jewish women to learn, play, and get ready for Hanukkah. Bring your Hanukkiah and 2 candles – we’ll explore topics around this holiday.

Register at events.hadassah.org/RoshChodeshTevet24

If you have any questions, contact solanonapa@hadassah.org or Sabine Goerke-Shrode at sm.shrode@sbcglobal.net.

Solano-Napa • Menorah Lighting
Tuesday, December 31 at 5:30 pm Pacific

Join us as we light the candles on the seventh night of Hanukah at Benicia City Park on 1st St near the gazebo. Share in the blessings and eat some sweets. For more information, contact Shoshana Nurik at Shosh1@aol.com.

Tri City (Fremont, Union City, Newark, Hayward) • Hadassah Book Club
Sunday, February 2 at 1:00 pm Pacific

We will discuss The Boy With The Star Tattoo by Talia Carter. Questions? Contact Karen Bresler at karen_bresler@hotmail.com.

For National Mah Jongg League Membership Renewals, order online at go.hadassah.org/mahjongg2025

Please specify Central Pacific Coast Region and your chapter, if known. Contact cpcr@hadassah.org for your chapter name. 

Questions or want to mail a check? Reach out to your local chair for the address or more information.

Monterey Peninsula-Salinas Chapter: Rena Feuerstein, RFeuerstein@hadassah.org
Oakland Ruach Chapter: Karen Bloom, blooms21@hotmail.com
Sequoia and Sharone Chapters: Michele Rappaport, MichRappa@comcast.net
Other Chapters: Contact blooms21@hotmail.com